A European Union – African Union aviation
seminar for African States and Regional Economic Communities was held on
13th-14th September in
Brussels. The event was organised jointly by the European Commission and the
African Union in order to share information on the regulation and functioning of
the EU internal aviation market and its relations with third countries. The
seminar brought together the aviation authorities from 30 African States,
Regional Economic Communities and specialised organisations in the field.

On this occasion, European Commission Vice-President Jacques Barrot declared:
“The seminar not only eased co-operation between the European Union and
the African Union in order to achieve the highest levels of safety and security
for aviation services in both continents, but proved to be an important step in
promoting regional integration in Africa as well.”

The seminar addressed the main challenges African States are facing in order
to meet the needs of a modern aviation sector. These are related to economic
regulation, safety and security standards, technological and infrastructure
investments, which call for a coordinated assistance within a common strategic
framework.

The seminar provided an important opportunity for deepening the aviation
policy dialogue with the African partners (Regional Economic Communities and
individual States) and for discussing prospects of cooperation in key areas of
aviation safety, security and air traffic management. The participants agreed to
develop the aviation partnership with the EU further which should aim primarily
at bringing the existing bilateral air service agreements between the EU Member
States and the African States concerned into legal conformity.

The EU adopted last December an EU Strategy for Africa where civil aviation
was identified as one of the key sectors as it plays an important role in the
political and economic development of the regions.